Show Notes
I start this week
with the Blizzard Survival Discount Offer, Ribz Discount Offer and the
Wilderness121 Discount Offer, Disaster Recovery, What I Carry Daily-My EDC, What
is the goal of EDC gear? Support these companies, Winter’s Impact, The
Adventure Bracelet Review, Some more companies to support, My Homemade
MRE, When the power stops, Knife Law, Two of my favourite camp fire recipes,
Benefits of Animals when living off
the Grid, Further companies to support, My Thoughts, The Luci Lantern Review,
Why Prepare 72-Hour "Bug-Out" Bags, The Evacu-hood Review, The
Wilderness Gathering.
I have sorted out
some great discount offers for you dear listener so many thanks to those
companies for offering special discounts just for you.
Blizzard Survival
20% Discount Offer
Blizzard Survival .com have a fantastic offer for you the
listener they are offering a 20%
discount on all goods bought from them at www.blizzardsurvival.com
The Ultimate in
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The Blizzard Survival Brand incorporating Reflexcell™
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emergency preparedness, disaster relief, personal survival, outdoor
activities...and more.
Reflexcell™ products are totally unique: weight-for-weight
far warmer than goose down, yet 100% weatherproof, tough, ultra-portable and
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Life-saving technology has never been so affordable.
Their product represents a step change in the way both
civilian and military users prepare for emergencies and treat trauma cases.
Here is an exciting New Product from Blizzard Survival
Blizzard has launched the Blizzard Heat Blanket an insulated
and active warming system for the whole body. Utilising its unique 3-ply
Reflexcell™ material in a reflective insulating blanket with self-activating
heating pads it incorporates front & side vents for easy access, and
integral hood for head protection. Now is the time to visit www.blizzardsurvival.com
All you have to do to get a 20% discount is enter the code
“PREPPER” at the checkout, it is that simple. Thank you Blizzard Survival.
30% DISCOUNT FROM
RIBZ
A front pack is a pack or bag that allows for access of
equipment from the persons chest. Front packs first and foremost allow for easy
access of gear without the removal of any equipment.
In many adventure outdoor activities it can be critical to
the sport to have the ability to reach essential gear fast without the removal
of a backpack. Simplicity is the foremost purpose of the front pack but there
are many additional benefits as well.
Weight distribution and balance is a key element in the
utility of the front pack. Shifting weight forward in situations when carrying
heavy loads can be critical to the comfort and balance of an individual.
Backpacking is a sport where in many situations it is
critical to both minimize and maximize the contents of your load for a longer
or lighter duration of stay. The ability to move small amounts of weight to the
frontal region significantly reduces overall stress on a person’s shoulders and
back.
Moving a small amount of heavy equipment forward to a front
pack can allow for an individual to either maximize or minimize the overall
load contained in a backpack.
In all there are unlimited uses for the front pack. Front
packs are the best compliment to any outdoorsman’s gear when accessibility,
functionality, mobility and simplicity are required.
From horseback riding, long distance biking, motorcycling
and kayaking. All sports where fast and easy access of gear is essential, a
front pack is your best solution and as you can imagine it is going down a
storm within the prepping and survivalist community.
RIBZ VIP TEAM DISCONT
Here's your code for 30% off all RIBZ
Your summer code is "TRAILBLAZE"
and can be used in the coupon section within the Store.
http://www.ribzwear.com/store/ Have a
Great Summer!
Wilderness121’s
10% discount
The new supplier of Purificup to the UK is Wilderness121 and
they really mean business, having spoken to the director Rob Williams he has
agreed to offer you dear listener a 10% discount just by putting the letters
UKPRN into the code box it is that simple.
So a big thank you to
Blizzard Survival, Ribz front pack and Wilderness121 for their great offers to
listeners of this programme.
Now the great news is
that my show is now re-broadcast on UK Health Radio so non-preppers will learn
what to do when SHTF so check out UK Health Radio at http://ukhealthradio.com they cove most health issues.
Disaster Recovery
I thought I would cover disaster recovery for those that own
businesses and for those who may be able to persuade their employer to make
changes.
“Do not stand in a place of danger trusting in miracles,” is
an old Arabian proverb that UK plc would do well to remember, given its
lackadaisical approach to disaster recovery.
It seems, despite the threat of the UK’s ever-tightening
data protection and compliance regulations, many UK businesses are still
failing to grasp the importance of having a business continuity strategy to
protect them from disaster.
Part of the problem is that organisations often
underestimate their reliance on IT, he claimed. “The fact is that many UK
companies still fail to prepare properly for IT disasters [because it] is
complicated and doing it well requires a lot of planning and testing.
This is almost never done because it has a tendency to be
ruinously time consuming [and] has left many with either cheap, inadequate
provisions or expensive provisions that fall short of protecting the business.
Companies are much more concerned about actual threats to
their business, such as competitors and exchange rates.
They pay insurance premiums to cover themselves against all
sorts of other eventualities, but they are extremely reluctant to insure
against disaster by investing in IT.
This is despite the fact a major, sustained IT system
failure can damage a company’s reputation and end up losing them business.
Companies must ask themselves how long they could do without
their computer systems before customers go elsewhere and their company suffers
irreparable damage.
I remember going into offices years ago and simply
un-plugging the machines and watching the staff panic and initially not being
able to carry on, how much more disastrous would my actions be today with most
businesses completely computerised.
It is not just a case of being able to recover the data that
has been backed up - companies also need to be able to get their
business-critical applications and systems up and running again quickly.
It is an area to
which people need to pay more attention because downtime and disasters can
happen to companies of all sizes.
Now that being said, I feel that larger companies and those
in the legal, healthcare and financial services markets tend to have a better
attitude than SMBs to disaster recovery.
Larger companies usually tend to have teams of people
working on disaster recovery because if an auditor requests a system test or a
disaster happens, it will cause big disruption and they will need to pull
people off of other projects to clear things up.
Even so, having a robust disaster recovery strategy is still
rarely treated as an essential business requirement within these industries. It
is simply a regulatory overhead.
It is often only companies that have experienced a disaster
which see the benefit of disaster recovery and view it as a business necessity.
When they have a warehouse burn down or a catastrophic flood that is when
businesses realise just how irreplaceable those records are.
Despite reports about high-profile companies losing data or
suffering downtime as a result of natural, man-made or technical disasters,
other firms rarely up their game in response.
I think it is an issue that needs to be treated by end users
in the same way as a high-profile virus attack because data loss can be equally
as devastating for a business.
As soon as a story breaks about a new computer virus, you
see an increase in anti-virus software sales and it should be exactly the same
with disaster recovery.”
What I Carry Daily-My EDC
So what is EDC?
“EDC” is an acronym for “Everyday Carry”. EDC refers to the gear that is carried on
your person or with you all the time. This normally includes gear in your
pockets, backpack, briefcase, etc.
Most EDC gear I think
is carried for one of the following reasons:
Security - Defensive
tools, keys for example
Convenience - Mobile, torch, wallet, pen/paper
Style - Watch
Comfort - Handkerchief, breath mints
Entertainment - MP3 player, e-reader
Job/Legal Requirements - Identification
Health/Safety - Medical gear, water bottle, medication
A person’s choice of EDC (everyday carry) gear is intensely
personal and for that reason, people often take great pride in the EDC gear
that they have chosen. EDC gear should
be chosen based on your individual lifestyle, environment, and individual
needs.
Everyday carry gear philosophy varies widely. Some approach EDC gear with an emphasis on
minimalism, while others want to have equipment on hand for every possible
situation.
Typical EDC (Everyday
Carry) gear can include:
Mobile phone
Wallet
Watch
Keychain
Writing tool
Flashlight
Pocket knife
MP3 Player
USB Key
Water bottle
Defensive tools (impact weapons, etc.)
GPS
Paper
E-reader
Laptop
Medical Kit/First Aid
Mints
Medical
Sunglasses
Camera
Child care products
Handkerchief
So everything in that list is normal and things that most
people already carry and the difference between them and what I carry is not
only the quality but the fact that my EDC has multi-purpose uses.
For example my tactical pen writes and my tactical torch
lights up the dark and even my Timex e expedition watch tells the time as well.
Firstly I have my Timex Expedition E-Instruments Compass
Tide and temp chronograph Watch T45601which is waterproof to 100mtrs or in old
money 333ft on my left wrist and my 550 paracord bracelet from paracord.com on
my other.
Depending on what I am wearing I could have my Black Hawk
web duty belt with the True utility multi-tool +lite and a Stoppa Red marker
spray on it which I carry whatever belt I have on.
On my key ring I have the kaufmann-mercantile.com EDC steel
tools including a mini lighter and on my feet a pair of Regatta Mens
Ad-Scursion Boots which are completely waterproof and offer total protection
and comfort.
In my wallet is a Tool logic survival 11 credit card
A Matthew Martin Tactical Pen in my personal planner
On my back or in the car with me I carry the 1 Person BASIC
Backpack Survival Kit from More prepared .com supplemented as it is designed to
be by additional kit to make it what I call complete.
That kit is
A UK motorway map and two local OS maps
A Purificup
Elzeta ZFL tactical Torch
A SOL Bivy bag
The Solo Stove with cotton wool and Vaseline balls stored
inside
A Nano fire starter
i-shields
My own survival meals, tea, 3 in 1 Nescafe coffee sachets,
Toilet roll
So what do you think is it too much? Is it not enough? You
know whatever you think will not change what I carry just in case, for the what
if’s and oh no’s.
Have fun designing you EDC and remember multi-function and
quality.
What is the goal of EDC gear?
I think the goal of EDC gear is to increase your quality of
life.
Every piece of EDC gear should work toward that end. Using EDC to increase your quality of life is
an ambitious goal, but there are a variety of ways to achieve that goal. Your EDC gear can increase your quality of
life by:
Increasing your self-reliance
Increasing your security
Increasing your comfort
Increasing your safety
Everyone has different goals -
People place varying amounts of emphasis on the different
aspects that relate to quality of life.
What is important to one person could be trivial to another.
Some people are supremely concerned about safety. Because of
this, an investment in a defensive tool would dramatically increase their
quality of life.
Others aren’t that concerned about safety, but having
something on hand to listen to or read makes their life much more enjoyable.
Some people gain supreme enjoyment from not having to rely
on others. They have their pen ready when the cashier rips the receipt from the
till. They have their torch ready when the power unexpectedly dies in the
restaurant.
Some people would go nuts if they didn’t have a pen and
paper to write down an idea that popped into their head.
Some people are constantly worried about how they would cut
a seat-belt if they were in a vehicle accident or how they would treat someone
with a medical issue. Simple tools could help to alleviate those worries and
dramatically increase their quality of life.
Maybe you plead guilty to all of the above. Maybe you are
thinking of something totally different that I didn’t mention. Perfect!
That’s the idea. Think about YOUR
priorities!
You will never be satisfied with EDC gear that caters to
someone else’s needs, wants, and goals!
It’s easy to look at someone else’s gear and try to copy it
for ourselves, but it’s not the right way to go about it. You have an intricate combination of personal
priorities that are different from anyone else in the world.
It takes some thought to arrange these priorities and
properly apply them to your gear. For now, let’s figure out what your goals
are!
If you are looking
for some new kit then please Support these Companies
The following
companies have supported this station and I will support them they are:
You will never need to boil water again
For I-shields UV Protection
For top quality 550 Paracord
For Survival Knives and Survival Kits
For the Nano Striker fire starter
For tasty MX3 Meals
The Lifesaver bottle
For the Knot Bone Lacelock
For the Wild and Edible Nutrition E Book
Browning Night Seeker Cap Light RGB
Multi lite Multi-tool
For the Ghillie Kettle
For the Farside Outdoor Meals
The Survivor knife
For the Chris Caine companion survival tool
Day Ration Pack
Vango Storm Shelter 400
myFC PowerTrekk
It runs on water, it really does
Winter's Impact
Storms with Strong
Winds
Sometimes winter storms are accompanied by strong winds
creating blizzard conditions with blinding wind-driven snow, severe drifting,
and dangerous wind chill. Strong winds with these intense storms and cold
fronts can knock down trees, utility poles, and power lines.
Storms near the coast can cause coastal flooding and beach
erosion both of which we have seen recently around the UK coast as well as sink
ships at sea. In the UK winds descending off the mountains can gust to 100 mph
or more damaging roofs and other structures.
Extreme Cold
Extreme cold often accompanies a winter storm or is left in
its wake. Prolonged exposure to the cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia and
become life-threatening. Infants and elderly people are most susceptible.
What constitutes extreme cold and its effect varies across
different areas of the UK. In areas unaccustomed to winter weather, near
freezing temperatures are considered "extreme cold." Say in the South
of England Freezing temperatures can cause severe damage to fruit crops and
other vegetation.
Pipes may freeze and burst in homes that are poorly insulated
or without heat. In the north, below zero temperatures may be considered as
"extreme cold." Long cold spells can cause rivers and lakes to freeze
lead to flooding.
Ice Storms
Heavy accumulations of ice can bring down trees, electrical
wires, telephone poles and lines, and communication towers. Communications and
power can be disrupted for days while utility companies work to repair the
extensive damage. Even small accumulations of ice may cause extreme hazards to
motorists and pedestrians.
Heavy Snow Storms
Heavy snow can immobilize a region and even paralyze a city,
stranding commuters, stopping the flow of supplies, and disrupting emergency
and medical services. Accumulations of snow can collapse buildings and knock
down trees and power lines.
In rural areas, homes and farms may be isolated for days,
and unprotected livestock may be lost. In the mountains, heavy snow can lead to
avalanches. The cost of snow removal, repairing damages, and loss of business
can have large economic impacts on cities and towns.
Winter Precipitation
Snow
FLURRIES - Light
snow falling for short durations. No accumulation or light dusting is all that
is expected.
SHOWERS - Snow
falling at varying intensities for brief periods of time. Some accumulation is
possible.
SQUALLS - Brief,
intense snow showers accompanied by strong, gusty winds. Accumulation may be
significant. Snow squalls are best known in the Scottish mountains.
BLOWING SNOW -
Wind-driven snow that reduces visibility and causes significant drifting.
Blowing snow may be snow that is falling and/or loose snow on the ground picked
up by the wind.
BLIZZARD - Winds
over 35 mph with snow and blowing snow reducing visibility to near zero.
Sleet
Rain drops that freeze into ice pellets before reaching the
ground. Sleet usually bounces when hitting a surface and does not stick to
objects. However, it can accumulate like snow and cause a hazard to motorists.
Freezing Rain
Rain that falls onto a surface with a temperature below
freezing. This causes it to freeze to surfaces, such as trees, cars, and roads,
forming a coating or glaze of ice. Even small accumulations of ice can cause a
significant hazard.
Winter Storm Facts:
SO what Makes a
Winter Storm?
COLD AIR:
Below freezing temperatures in the clouds and near the
ground are necessary to make snow and/or ice.
MOISTURE:
To form clouds and precipitation. Air blowing across a body
of water, such as a large lake or the ocean, is an excellent source of
moisture.
LIFT:
Something to raise the moist air to form the clouds and
cause precipitation. An example of lift is warm air colliding with cold air and
being forced to rise over the cold dome. The boundary between the warm and cold
air masses is called a front. Another example of lift is air flowing up a
mountain side.
WINTER STORMS ARE
CONSIDERED DECEPTIVE KILLERS .....
BECAUSE MOST DEATHS
ARE
INDIRECTLY
RELATED TO THE STORM
People die in traffic accidents on icy roads.
People die of hypothermia from prolonged exposure to cold.
Winter Deaths
Everyone is potentially at risk during winter storms. The
actual threat to you depends on your specific situation. Recent observations
indicate the following:
Related to ice and
snow:
About 70% occur in automobiles.
About 25% are people caught out in the storm.
Related to exposure to cold:
50% are people over 60 years old.
Over 75% are males.
About 20% occur in the home.
COLD
FROSTBITE
Frostbite is damage to body tissue caused by that tissue
being frozen. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance
in extremities, such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, or the tip of the nose. If
symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately!
If you must wait for help, slowly rewarm affected areas.
However, if the person is also showing signs of hypothermia, warm the body core
before the extremities.
HYPOTHERMIA: LOW BODY
TEMPERATURE
Warning signs -
uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred
speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion.
Detection - Take
the person's temperature. If below 95F (35C) immediately seek medical care! If
medical care is not available, begin warming the person slowly. Warm the body
core first. If needed, use your own body heat to help. Get the person into dry
clothing, and wrap them in a warm blanket covering the head and neck.
Do not give the person alcohol, drugs, coffee, or any hot
beverage or food; warm broth is better. Do not warm extremities (arms and legs)
first! This drives the cold blood toward the heart and can lead to heart
failure.
WIND CHILL
The wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from
exposed skin caused by combined effects of wind and cold. As the wind
increases, heat is carried away from the body at an accelerated rate, driving
down the body temperature. Animals are also affected by wind chill.
AVOID OVEREXERTION,
such as shovelling heavy snow, pushing a car, or walking in deep snow. The
strain from the cold and the hard labour may cause a heart attack. Sweating
could lead to a chill and hypothermia.
When CAUGHT in a
Winter Storm...
OUTSIDE
Find shelter:
Try to stay dry and cover all exposed parts of the body.
No shelter:
Prepare a lean-to, wind-break, or snow cave for protection
from the wind. Build a fire for heat and to attract attention and place rocks
around the fire to absorb and reflect heat.
Remember do not eat
snow: It will lower your body temperature. Melt it first.
IN A CAR OR TRUCK
Stay in your car or truck. Disorientation occurs quickly in
wind-driven snow and cold.
Run the motor about ten minutes each hour for heat: open the
window a little for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning make sure the
exhaust pipe is not blocked.
Make yourself visible
to rescuers:
Turn on the interior light at night when running engine.
Tie a coloured cloth (preferably red) to your antenna or
door and raise the bonnet indicating trouble after snow stops falling.
Exercise from time to time by vigorously moving arms, legs,
fingers, and toes to keep blood circulating and to keep warm.
AT HOME OR IN A
BUILDING
Stay inside. When using ALTERNATIVE HEAT from a fireplace, wood
stove, space heater, etc. use fire safeguards and properly ventilate.
No heat: Close
off unneeded rooms, stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors and cover
windows at night.
Eat and drink.
Food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat. Keep the body
replenished with fluids to prevent dehydration.
Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing.
Remove layers to avoid overheating, perspiration, and subsequent chill.
KEEP AHEAD OF THE
STORM by listening to Weather reports on commercial radio, and television
for the latest winter storm watches, warnings, and advisories.
What to Listen For...
WINTER STORM WATCH:
Severe winter conditions, such as heavy snow and/or ice, are
possible within the next day or two. Prepare now!
WINTER STORM WARNING:
Severe winter conditions have begun or are about to begin in
your area. Stay inside!
BLIZZARD WARNING:
Snow and strong winds will combine to produce a blinding
snow (near zero visibility), deep drifts, and life-threatening wind chill. Seek
refuge immediately!
WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORY:
Winter weather conditions are expected to cause significant
inconveniences and may be hazardous. If caution is exercised, these situations
should not become life- threatening. The greatest hazard is often to motorists.
FROST/FREEZE WARNING:
Below freezing temperatures are expected and may cause
significant damage to plants, crops, or fruit trees. In areas unaccustomed to
freezing temperatures, people who have homes without heat need to take added
precautions.
BE PREPARED...
Before the Storm Strikes
At home and at
work...
Primary concerns are the potential loss of heat, power,
telephone service, and a shortage of supplies if storm conditions continue for
more than a day.
Have available:
Flashlight/torch and extra batteries.
Battery-powered Radio/ wind-up/solar to receive emergency
information. These may be your only links to the outside.
Extra food and water. High energy food, such as dried fruit
or candy, and food requiring no cooking or refrigeration is best.
Extra medicine and baby items.
First-aid supplies.
Heating fuel. Fuel carriers may not reach you for days after
a severe winter storm.
Emergency heating source, such as a fireplace, wood stove,
space heater, etc.
Learn to use properly to prevent a fire.
Have proper ventilation.
Fire extinguisher and smoke detector.
Test units regularly to ensure they are working properly.
In cars and trucks...
Plan your travel and check the latest weather reports to
avoid the storm!
Fully check and winterize your vehicle before the winter
season begins.
Carry a WINTER STORM
SURVIVAL KIT:
Blankets/sleeping bags;
Flashlight/torch with extra batteries;
First-aid kit;
Knife;
High-calorie, non-perishable food;
Extra clothing to keep dry;
A large empty can and plastic cover with tissues and paper
towels for sanitary purposes;
A smaller can and water-proof matches to melt snow for
drinking water;
Sack of sand (or cat litter);
Shovel
Windscreen scraper and brush;
Tool kit;
Tow rope;
Jump Leads
Water container;
Compass and road maps.
Keep your fuel tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and
fuel lines.
Try not to travel alone.
Let someone know your timetable and primary and alternate
routes.
Assess if you have to
go out in the first place
On the farm...
Move animals to sheltered areas. Shelter belts, properly
laid out and oriented, are better protection for cattle than confining
shelters, such as sheds.
Have a water supply available. Most animal deaths in winter
storms are from dehydration.
DRESS TO FIT THE
WEATHER
Wear loose-fitting, light-weight, warm clothing in several
layers. Trapped air insulates. Layers can be removed to avoid perspiration and
subsequent chill. Outer garments should be tightly woven, water repellent, and
hooded.
Wear a hat. Half your body heat loss can be from the head.
Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold. Mittens, snug at the
wrist, are better than gloves. Try to stay dry.
FAMILY DISASTER PLAN
Families should be prepared for all hazards that affect
their area and themselves. It is for me common sense for each family to develop
a family disaster plan. Where will your family be when disaster strikes?
They could be anywhere at work, at school, or in the car.
How will you find each other? Will you know if your children are safe? Disasters
may force you to evacuate your neighbourhood or confine you to your home.
What would you do if basic services - water, gas,
electricity or telephones - were cut off?
Follow these basic
steps to develop a family disaster plan...
I. Gather information about hazards. Contact your local
Weather Service , emergency management office at your town/county hall. Find
out what type of disasters could occur and how you should respond. Learn your
community's warning signals and evacuation plans, if they have any, if not why
not begin to plan your own.
2. Meet with your family to create a plan. Discuss the
information you have gathered. Pick two places to meet: a spot right outside
your home for an emergency, such as fire, and a place away from your neighbourhood
in case you can't return home.
Choose an out-of county friend as your "family check-in
contact" for everyone to call if the family gets separated. Discuss what
you would do if advised to evacuate.
3. Implement your
plan.
Put emergency telephone numbers by phones;
Install safety features in your house, such as smoke detectors
and fire extinguishers,
Inspect your home for potential hazards (such as items that
can move, fall, break, or catch fire) and correct them;
Have your family learn basic safety measures, such as CPR
and first aid; how to use a fire extinguisher; and how and when to turn off
water, gas, and electricity in your home;
Teach children how and when to call 999 or 112
Keep enough supplies in your home to meet your needs for at
least three days. Assemble a disaster supplies kit with items you may need in
case of an evacuation. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry
containers, such as backpacks or duffle bags.
Keep important family documents in a waterproof container.
Keep a smaller disaster supplies kit in the boot of your car.
A DISASTER SUPPLIES
KIT SHOULD INCLUDE:
A 3-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) and
food that won't spoil one change of clothing and footwear per person one
blanket or sleeping bag per person a first-aid kit, including prescription
medicines emergency tools, including a battery-powered/wind-up/solar Radio and
a flashlight/torch and plenty of extra batteries an extra set of car keys and
cash, special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family member.
The Adventure Bracelet Review
WHAT IS THIS THING?
The Adventure Bracelet is a survival toolbox you can wear on
your wrist! It comes with at least 16 different components that can provide you
with the tools you need to improvise, adapt, and overcome a life-threatening
situation.
Special attention has been made to make particular
components of the Adventure immediately available for those unexpected worst
case scenarios. Many of the parts of this wearable survival kit had to be
custom created to meet the quality we required.
WHY DO I NEED ONE?
Because this is the most complete wearable survival kit ever
created! If your life is on the line, would you want to settle for anything
less?
DOES IT MAKE ME
INVINCIBLE?
No! There is no replacement for learning and practicing
survival skills. Survival is inherently dangerous and these products are in NO
WAY a guarantee of survival.
But having said that you will not have the same chance of
survival without it that I believe you would have if it was on your wrist at
the time of the survival event.
For that reason alone it is part of my EDC urban wise or
rural wise.
Product Description
The Adventure Bracelet is a survival toolbox you can wear on your wrist! It
comes with at least 16 different components that can provide you with the tools
you need to improvise, adapt, and overcome a life-threatening situation.
Special attention has been made to make particular
components of the Adventure immediately available for those unexpected worst
case scenarios. Many of the parts of this wearable survival kit had to be
custom created to meet the quality we required.
Product Specs
Paracord, FireSteel, Fishing Line, Fishing Hooks, Split Shot
Weights, Safety Pins, Straw, Ranger Bands, Compass, Striker Blade, First Aid
Tinder, Whistle, Cable Ties, Retro-Reflector, Glow Light, Handcuff Key, Mirror.
After doing a rather exhaustive search for a high quality
EDC survival kit I narrowed it down to those with some way to start fires and
hopefully a knife/cutting edge/saw to sharpen sticks for traps or spears.
But everyone was either too big for my urban wear pockets or
they required some sort of bad or carrying system.
Then I found the Adventure Bracelet made by Wazoo Survival
LLC and it is the mutt’s nuts, it really is and makes all the others pale into
insignificance this brilliant piece of gear comes with 17 pieces of life saving
equipment and over a thousand uses.
The cordage is over 7ft long with strands and inner strands...giving you over
49ft of combined length.
We all know that paracord has over 550 uses, but to list
just a few: Constructing a shelter, lashing a spear, creating tools, fire
tinder, replacement shoe laces, fishing line,
making a splint....
There is a really effective firesteel Located on the male
side of the Wazoo patented buckle is an integrated ferro rod, thus saving
precious space. Using the sharp/hard edge on the other end of the bracelet you
will be able to create sparks at 5500°F/3000°C.
The fishing line is sealed within the middle of the bracelet
and is 30ft/10m of braided Spectra line rated at 50lb Count the ways you can
use the fishing line.....perhaps just as many as paracord!!!
The fishing Hooks are 2x #8 offset Eagle Claw bronze finish
hooks also sealed within the plastic in the middle of the paracord for salt and
freshwater.
Split Shot Weights 2x #3/0 lead reusable sealed in the
middle of the bracelet.
Safety Pins. 2x sealed in the middle of the bracelet,
3/4''/19mm Size 00 made that is brass, non-reflective black coating. The uses
are also limitless: Break off the point and use it as a compass, fix
gear/clothes, fashion a sling, expedient trap/fishing hook.
Straw 5in/12.7cm of clear polyolefin tube that is located in
the middle of the bracelet, use to get water, possibly emergency tracheotomy or
containing a small note.
Ranger band 4 are on the Adventure bracelet, used to secure
the strike blade and first aid tinder. This can be used with the first aid gel
to increase the length of burn time, secure your gear and fasten spears heads.
A retro-reflector, is located underneath the compass. It
will produce up to 700 candelas/lux.sq.m when reflected, it is made of the
highest grade reflectivity available. Used for night time visual signalling.
Glow Light it is located underneath the compass lid, it
produces up to 12 hours pf brightness with gradual dimness. Used for
illuminating the compass, night time map reading/navigation or signalling.
Exposing/"charging" it will allow it to glow at
179 mcd/lux sq. d. It is nontoxic and non-radioactive.
Compass. 20mm Grade AA liquid filled that is luminous and
water resistant to 100ft/30m with working temp of -20°-120°F/-28°-49°C.
Striker blade Held in place by two Ranger bands, it has a
full length, chisel edge razor blade. Made up of Zirconia ceramic, it is harder
than steel, non-metallic and will not rust. The exposed end is the firesteel
striker, the blade end is protected by the sheath.
First Aid Tinder. 2x water proof packets that are secured in
the buckle anchor voids by ranger bands. They provide triple antibiotic,
topical pain reliever and 30 seconds plus of burn time.
Whistle it is integrated into the buckle, at a loud 100plus
db, which will work wet or cold.
Cable/Zip ties. 2x that are woven inside the bracelet with
the heads exposed near each buckle, which allow one time immediate deployment.
Zip ties have 100s of uses along with the paracord.
Handcuff key. Non-metallic, universal and concealable.
Mirror. Located under the female buckle, it has a clear
protective film, which can be removed, which protects the mirror surface. You
can use it to for signalling, trapping animals, and for hygienic
self-observation.
Surgical tubing. It comes with about 2 feet of 3/16'' black
latex surgical grade tubing. Which can be used as an field expedient tourniquet,
extended drinking straw or solar still, used as a slingshot, traps or snares,
cordage, repairing gear....etc.
I put my 100% trust in Wazoo Survival Gear because they have: "Products
that can save your LIFE!"
Don’t take the risk,
wear a survival kit on your wrist
Here are some more
companies to support
72 hour survival pack
Blizzard Survival jacket
Survival Ration Packs
SOL Complete Survival Kit and SOL Bivy Bag
The answer to rough ground sleeping
For all your military equipment needs
NEW MRE’s
The Fire Piston
Great tasty MRE’s
The 95 Puukko Survival Knife
Gold Standard Whey Protein isolates which are 90% pure
protein by weight
The RIBZ Front Pack
Nuclear Fallout Shelters
Their company
provides Nuclear fallout shelters for those who wish to prepare for the
inevitable. The Syria crisis is evidence people need to prepare.
America has been
moving nuclear warheads to its east coast and Russia has 160,000 soldiers
massed on the Syria border. Iran said it would 'set Israel on fire' if Syria
was attacked.
Now is the time for
people to act if they want to make their family safe! For me it’s not just
about business, I have made arrangements where I can accept assets other than
cash for those who don't have the money (as I don't want a lack of cash to
stand in the way of peoples safety). Please check their website for details -
My Homemade MRE
I have been looking at the high prices of British Army MRE
Ration Packs (About £10+ along with postage!) and I decided to opt for making
my own for my bug out bag.
All of these items I bought from my local Asda so these are
current prices. I would recommend using a vacuum sealer or Mylar bags with o2
absorbers to make these feasible, otherwise the shelf life I predict is
probably not going to be reached due to the nature of some of the items.
Anyway, let’s begin, please note numbers after names are
Calories, then price!
Breakfast
8 x Belvita Biscuits 445 £0.76
Coffee Sachet 75 £0.14
Lunch
Cup a Soup 90 £0.10
Dinner
Mugshot Pasta 307 £0.68
Lemon + Black pepper tuna tins x 2 340 £1.10
Snacks
Boost bar 305 £0.25
Kendal mint cake 85g 350 £0.88
Pumpkin seeds 566 £0.55
Strawberry lances 300 £0.33
Coffee sachet 75 £0.14
So this leads to a total cost of £4.93 and a whopping 2853
calories!
I have also got three vacuum sealed bags of peanuts, raisins
and chocolate drops which I would also chuck into the bug out bag, these
contain a staggering 1750 calories for only £0.99 and will last for ages in the
vacuum seal!
I'll add as well, my MRE weighs about 870g, where as a
normal British Army one weighs 1750g and also it’s technically not an MRE as it
requires water and minimal heating, but I have both of those in my BOB so
nothing to worry about really!
This is a very basic but very tasty MRE option and I am sure
as I experiment further that it will develop and become more season friendly
with both a range of hot and cold meals.
When the power stops
It is a fact that our country is more reliant on electrical
power today than at any time in its history. Our way of life – from everyday
conveniences and the security of local emergency services to commerce and
communications – is contingent upon an always on, always available flow of
electricity.
But an aging infrastructure coupled with a rise in natural
and man-made disasters threatens our entire modern day digital infrastructure.
According to many experts from the private and public sector, we’re just one
major catastrophic event away from a complete meltdown of life in the United
Kingdom as we know it today.
So, what happens if and when the grid goes down for an
extended period of time? Aside from the aggravation of not being able to
determine what is happening through traditional media channels, for the Average
person, his problems have only just begun.
Our dependency to the
power grid doesn’t just stop at the lack of electricity in our homes to power
our appliances or an inability to charge our mobile phones; it Is much broader
and affects every aspect of our
lives.
We are regularly inundated with news reports covering power
cuts that last several days or weeks resulting from bad weather or snow storms.
During those times, when entire metropolitan areas or regions experience power
cuts, we get a glimpse into what a truly widespread emergency might look like.
It is often the case that the first thing residents of
affected areas do is rush to the supermarket and DIY stores hoping to acquire
critical supplies like food, water, batteries, flashlights and generators.
And while these supplies acquired at the onset of crisis may
provide short term sustenance, any long-term power cut situation that lasts for
many weeks or months will prove dangerous, and perhaps fatal, to the
unprepared.
Consider, for a moment, how drastically your life would
change without the continuous flow of energy the grid delivers. While
manageable during a short-term disaster, losing access to the following
critical elements of our just-in-time society would wreak havoc on the system.
Challenges or shut downs of business commerce
Breakdown of our basic infrastructure: communications, mass
transportation, supply chains
Inability to access money via atm machines
Payroll service interruptions
Interruptions in public facilities – schools, workplaces may
close, and public gatherings.
Inability to have access to clean drinking water
The last widespread outage in the Northeast with over 80,000
homes without electricity, showed how intimately interconnected and alarmingly fragile our power grid is.
If our society is more reliant on power than at any time in
history – without it, we’ve got no commerce, no communications, no clean water
– and if power becomes less reliable in the future, the big question is: Will
we be able to hack it?
THE TROUBLE with the future of power isn’t that there is one big problem that could knack us. It’s
that there are a host of them, any
one of which could knack us.
These things that
could knack us I would class as Extreme Natural Disasters
This includes earthquakes, hurricanes, snow storms,
thunderstorms as well as massive solar storms that have the potential to
seriously damage the electrical grid. You don’t think it could happen?
“It took just 90 seconds for a 1989 solar storm to cause the
collapse of the Hydro-Quebec power grid, leaving 6 million Canadians without
power for up to nine hours.
A 2008 NASA-funded report noted the risk of significant
damage to our interconnected grid in light of the forecast for increased solar
activity. The 11-year solar cycle is expected to peak in 2013, and just two
weeks ago we saw one of the biggest solar-radiation storms in years.
Acts of Terrorism
This category includes, but is not limited to a physical
attack on the bulk power system, either at its source of generation or
somewhere along its transmission route, cyber attack on the computers
controlling our interconnected grid, electro-magnetic pulse, or an EMP, weapon.
Have you read me “effects of EMP” article. EMP’s will create
long-lasting damage that would incapacitate
electronic systems across the country and forever change our way of life.
Cyber-threats are another concern and someone with serious hacking skills could
easily take out computers, networks or information stored therein to cause
lasting damage to our way of life.
The Ailing Grid
Our ailing power grid is almost as sick as our failing
economy. With one malicious event, be it man made or by natural means, it is
down. Our power delivery system is as old and stooped as a pensioner. As it is
upgraded and its capacity is expanded, our rapacious
need for more electrical power races to max it out once again.
A wide-spread emergency, such as a massive power surge,
solar flare or a rogue electromagnetic pulse (EMP) detonation have the capacity
to render our entire power
infrastructure useless. Transformers and other key elements on which the grid
depends could be permanently damaged as a result of massive electric surges.
In an event such as this our immediate problem will be
finding a way to order, manufacture and take delivery of the components needed
to replace the faulty ones.
Most of the parts made for our electrical grid are made in
China – and many are decades old. It would take months to get the parts shipped
to this country and replaced.
During the power cut, millions would be adversely affected;
some even suggesting that within a year 9 out of 10 Britons would be dead from
starvation, disease and violence.
Ladies and gentleman,
if there’s one thing that can cause the veritable “S” to hit the fan, this is
it.
So how do we remedy and/or prepare for a grid down scenario?
Think retro – like pioneer retro- and by that we have to go way back to when we
were not so dependent on the luxury of on-demand energy in its various forms.
When preparing for a grid-down scenario, we must comprise different contingency
plans for short-term and longer-term issues. That being the case, we have to
admit to ourselves that it could last longer than we expect and much more than
just a minor inconvenience. Therefore, the best way to prepare is to start with
your basic needs. That is the need for light, heat, water, and food. Some
preparedness items to stock up on are:
Alternative fuel sources such as solar and diesel, wood for
burning.
Food preservation supplies – dehydrators, canners, smokers,
fermenting/pickling supplies.
Bulk food – Canned, freeze-dried, dehydrated or dry goods.
Water filtration supplies, rain harvesting supplies and
large quantities of stored water.
Light sources: Lanterns, flashlights/torches, candles and
matches and alternative light sources
Batteries and chargers
Emergency stove – solar oven, rocket stove, camping stoves,
etc.
Wood burning fire place – Central air heating systems, even
if they use natural gas or propane, depend on electricity for the blower that
will circulate the heated air. When the grid is down, this system will not
work. Having a wood burning fire place is an alternative to central heating
systems.
Cash money and/or silver or gold currency.
The vulnerability of our grid is nothing new to preppers.
Some have seen this problem coming for a long time and changed their entire
ways of life by going off-grid. They have found alternative sources such as
solar, wind and diesel to power their homes and machinery. A majority of us,
who have not gone off-grid, are making a concerted effort to avoid dependence
on this ailing infrastructure and preparing for life without it.
That being said, all we can do is stay the course, prepare
accordingly and continue on.
Knife Law
A well designed, well-made knife makes a fantastic tool for
a huge number of important tasks. Our
knives are highly crafted items aimed at professionals and responsible users
who appreciate fine quality.
The nature of a knife as a product makes it necessary for
all countries to have their own laws surrounding sale and ownership.
In the UK, it is legal to carry a folding Pocket Knife
having a blade with a cutting edge of less than 3 inches (7.62cm) in a public
place. All of our Pocket Knives feature
blades with cutting edges of less than this length. We would still urge a “common sense” approach
as to where and when it might be appropriate to carry a knife.
For any knife with a cutting edge of more than 3 inches, a
person must have to have a justifiable reason for carrying one in a public
place in the UK. For example a chef carrying
his knife set on his way to work would have a justifiable reason for doing so.
Strictly no retail
sales to under 18's.
(The above points are intended as a guide only and are our
opinions based on our understanding of UK law. We do not accept responsibility
or liability for these comments. It is your responsibility as a knife owner or
reseller to familiarise yourself with, and keep yourself updated on, the
relevant laws surrounding knives in your country / state.
For proper legal advice you should consult a solicitor. For further reading on the knife law in the
UK, please visit these links; Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959,
Criminal Justice Act 1988 - Section 139, Offensive Weapons Act 1996, Knives Act
1997)
Two of my favourite camp fire recipes
Quick Fried Camp
Squirrel
INGREDIENTS
One to two squirrels
2 to 3 cups flour (bread crumbs)
3 to 4 whole eggs
Some seasoning if you wanted to spice it up.
A tablespoon or two of white wine.
Directions
Place pan on High.
Add spices to the eggs.
Dip squirrel into the eggs until fully covered.
Next place into the four or bread crumbs.
Place into the pan turn the heat down to medium high.
Add white wine just before adding the squirrel.
Cook the squirrel for roughly 3 to 5 minutes or until golden
brown.
Then serve.
When preparing game birds, you can cook young birds by
broiling, roasting, or in any of your other favourite recipes. But older birds
should be stewed or braised to tenderize them. Or if you wish, you can try a
commercial tenderizer.
Just sprinkle the tenderizer in the body cavity of the bird
and let the bird stand in the refrigerator. The amount of time the bird needs
to remain in the refrigerator depends on the size of the bird. For example, a
large bird such as a turkey will need 12 to 24 hours for the tenderizer to
work.
If you're not sure how many servings you'll get from each
bird this may help you:
1 serving = 2 quail
1-2 squab
2-3 doves
Or 1 small duck.
You can figure on at least 2 servings from 1 pheasant or 1
large duck.
A 4-6 lb. goose should feed 4-6 people.
Rabbit Stew or
Pheasant Stew
1 or 2 rabbits or pheasants
Salt, pepper and paprika to taste
1 c. sour cream
1 c. cream of mushroom soup
1/4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp. chopped onions
Preparation:
Season cut up meat. Mix sour cream, soup and Worcestershire
sauce. Add chopped onions. Cook in slow cooker on low for 8 hours. Or on the
edge of a camp fire stirring regularly and moderating the heat.
Benefits of
Animals when living off the Grid
If you go the extra mile and decide to raise animals, you
will greatly reduce your dependence on the outside world shops &
supermarkets for example because animals can provide you with the following:
Meat and Poultry (fresh meat, no hormones, healthier food).
Milk and Eggs (will make you happy every morning).
You can obtain other by-products such as cheese and butter
(once you learn how to make them).
Animals are great pets and can bring joy to the whole
family.
Can keep the grass mowed down for you.
Can provide you with fertilizers for your plants.
They can multiply, which means you have the option to sell
or increase production.
Goats are the best choice when living off the grid, because
they're low maintenance, they can basically take care of themselves. Goats can
survive on bushes, trees, desert scrub and aromatic herbs when sheep and cattle
would starve to death. Goat milk casein and milk fat are more easily digested
than cow milk. Goat milk is valued for the elderly, sick, babies, children with
cow milk allergies, patients with ulcers.
Goats have a lot to offer, and they don't ask much in
return. They can clear invasive weeds, offer fresh goat milk, and they can be a
fun pet. They can also be used for meat if necessary. Goats can be quite a bit
of work too, but many city dwellers are finding that raising urban goats is
quite rewarding.
Before getting a cow, think hard about it. A cow is the
biggest tie in the farm, you will have to milk her twice a day, to feed the cow
you need to grow fodder, to use up the manure from the cow you will have to dig
or plough more land ... unless you’re dedicated to spend more time in the farm,
think loud and often before getting a cow. On the other hand, a cow will save
you more money in the farm than anything else, milk, butter and cheese go up
and up in price, you can also sell or trade calves if you want for something
else you might need more in the farm.
Sheep are a very good thing to keep, for the self-supporter.
Sheep live and fatten on grass. Don't even make demands on your hay unless the
ground is covered with snow (and even then they won't eat hay unless they have
previously learnt to); they are thus cheap to keep. A good number would be 4
ewes and a ram (or ask a neighbouring farmer if you could borrow his ram for a
few days).
Choose the breed that is native to the country you live in.
Very good pasture may carry three ewes with their lambs per acre, less good two
ewes and their lambs. You might average one and a half lambs per ewe. But they
will do far better if you rotate them around the farm: put them on, say, a
quarter of your grass acreage and keep them there until they have nibbled the
grass right down, then move them on to the next quarter. In this way let them
follow the cows—sheep will graze very advantageously after cows have had all
they can get: cows will starve after sheep.
To raise chicken the humane and healthy way is to give them
enough space to scrap, to perch, to flap their wings and take dust baths (which
is not possible and even cruel in a wire cage). If you want to have eggs all
year then a couple of dozen of hens will do. Give each hen a handful of grain
every evening and a handful or two of high protein food in the morning, and any
scraps you can spare, and they will do the rest. They will eat a lot of grass
and a lot of earwigs. They will hatch you out a clutch of pretty little chicks.
Keep them out of your garden or they will play hell with it.
Always keep a cock among your hens, hens like having it off
as much as we do. Let your chicken run right out into the fields and woods.
They will be getting so much free food. Why go in for incubators and brooders
when hens will do all that work for nothing for you? Hens will be able to give
you eggs from grain and household scraps alone, but not many. If hens are
really to produce eggs they must have some protein.
Raising geese is very easy and require very low maintenance
if any. A pen of geese, say three geese and a gander will run happily about the
fields, and live on grass with just a handful of grain thrown to them every
night to lure them home to shut them in from the foxes, otherwise they don’t
need any grain.
But you must protect them from rats and foxes. Rats will
pull goose eggs, or young geese, right out from under the feathers of the goose
mother. A fox will go miles to get a sitting goose. When geese begin to lay,
say in February or March, if you are lucky enough to have a broody hens then,
you will have to splash eggs with water every day, because a hen doesn’t know
this part of goose mother’s duties.
Further Companies to
Support
Uses natural fuel
EDC steel tools
Highlander Trojan Hydration Pack – Multicam
CUDEMAN HEAVY DUTY OLIVE WOOD BUSHCRAFT KNIFE - 111L
Alum Crystal and natural spa products
Tool logic Survival 11 Credit Card
BackHawk Web duty Belt
Guppie Multi=tool
Go Survival Pack
Beautiful Handmade Catapults
1 Person BASIC Backpack Survival Kit, the back pack that
does it all
DD Hammock –The ultimate in Travel Hammocks
Elzetta ZFL-M60 Tactical Weapon-Grade LED Torch
Ultimate Adventurer Survival Kit everything in one kit
Adjustable Knife Lanyard Review
Handmade knives by James D. Sanders
Mini alarm Device with an Ultra bright White LED
Lightload towels
The Power Trekk
The LUCI light
Nubé: (new-bay) The Ultimate Hammock Camping Shelter
Check this out Black
Cat Survival goes LIVE with its new shop on Feb 1st Good Luck Guys
Maxpedition Jumbo E.D.C.
My Thoughts
Expect the conditions following economic collapse to lead to
a new peasantry - office workers becoming field labourers or bandits; tied to
food production by desperate circumstances.
But without modern sanitation and medical care, plagues and
epidemics can run rampant.
Without modern education, many academic and professional
categories will vanish. Expect religions and cults to experience enormous
growth as oil-based societies return to more medieval structures.
Myths work as long as a majority believe them to be true.
Leaders clad their agendas in the language and thought patterns of those myths.
Until the 20th century, leaders used religious talk ... now people believe that
democracy and the free market really exist and that they are the mainstay for
everything dear and valuable ... Thus to mobilize today's population, leaders
use democracy and free-market talk.
It is like the difference between official
socialist/communist concepts and real-world socialism/communism.
Our societies require the on-going integrated functioning of
many factors, including electricity, water, food, heat, transportation,
communication, medicine and security.
An extended manipulation or failure of any of these
sub-systems can damage or collapse the others; and the collapse of one country
or region can have huge consequences elsewhere on our interconnected planet.
Food is power.
We use it to change behaviour. Some may call that bribery.
Catherine Bertini, UN World Food Program Executive Director,
1997
A gradual collapse would not be SO bad. A fast collapse
would be devastating. Most people will freeze, panic or reject the news - until
they are motivated to move by thirst, starvation, looters and epidemics.
Many people who wait for help will die. NOW is the best time
to make emergency last-minute preparations. How can you arrange to keep your
essential possessions ... and your life?
The essential difference between survivors and casualties is
preparation!
During a disaster - every second counts! Waiting for help
may kill you!
I think that the
potential Stages of Societal Collapse are
Moral Collapse.
You stop trusting people. You distrust your elected politicians, businesses,
government employees, religious leaders and military. Unemployment soars and
your neighbourhood becomes increasingly dangerous.
As riots and suicides increase, dysfunctional authorities
may talk about the temporary crisis and seek scapegoats. I remember talking to
Selco who described exactly this as the Collapse began in the Balkans.
Financial Collapse.
You stop trusting banks. You cannot assess risk and your financial assets are
not guaranteed. If financial institutions become insolvent; your savings may be
wiped out, and you cannot access your capital.
As social unrest and suicide increase, airlines and borders
may be closed. Authorities may call this a temporary measure and may blame
computer hackers.
Commercial Collapse.
You stop trusting businesses. Money may be devalued and/or become scarce.
People hoard and trade basic commodities and medications, import and retail chains
cease, and there are widespread shortages of survival necessities.
Supermarkets are guarded and you hear of food riots. Martial
law may be enforced in cities. If your electricity stops - would you freeze in
the dark?
Authorities may talk of a temporary emergency and may blame
farmers and traders.
Political Collapse.
You stop trusting governments. Official attempts to provide survival
necessities are ineffective; and politicians lose legitimacy and relevance.
Emergency calls are not answered. Starving people want your
food, medical supplies and weapons. You may hear of military coups or of
millions of starving people. Authorities may blame terrorists.
Social Collapse.
You stop trusting authorities. Social institutions become resourceless. Dead
bodies become commonplace. Cities become centres of starvation and disease.
Might is right ... but who has weapons? Internment camps may conceal starvation
and genocide ... for a while.
Authorities may blame
hoarders/ preppers.
Military Collapse.
You stop trusting the military. Martial law transitions into local
dictatorships. The military may perceive you and your family as targets
competing for the same resources as themselves - or as potential slaves.
They may create systems of forced labour and slavery ...
fighting local wars over local resources.
Kindness becomes a strange concept. Authorities may blame
communists.
Civilization Collapse.
You stop trusting hope. Death is everywhere. People cannot afford to be kind.
Urban regions become death zones. Nothing is more dangerous than desperate men.
Whose women and children will live - and whose will die? You
hear stories of cannibals. You might be killed for a candy bar ... you might be
hunted for your meat.
The only authorities are people who can kill you.
Here is a cutting from a US Government report following the
winter of 1609-1610: Concerning CANNIBALISM IN AMERICA
Driven thru insufferable hunger to eat those things which
nature most abhorred, the flesh and excrements of man as well of our own nation
as of an Indian, digged by some out of his grave after he had lain buried three
days and wholly devoured him; others, envying the better state of body of any
whom hunger has not yet so much wasted as their own, lay wait and threatened to
kill and eat them; one among them slew his wife as she slept in his bosom, cut
her in pieces, salted her and fed upon her till he had devoured all parts
saving her head.
It hardly matters what causes it - financial collapse,
global warming, an oil war or space aliens.
As infrastructure collapses, misinformation will dominate
the media. Instructions and advice given to avoid widespread panic may worsen
your chances of survival.
This may not be a good time to stay indoors and wait for
instructions. It may be a good time to get out of a city fast while you still
can.
Government agencies may tell you, while communications last,
that their instructions will ensure your survival. But your survival may not
support their survival.
Police in most countries (including the UK) are not obligated
to protect you even now ... and if you are not prepared, you may quickly die
during a fast economic collapse.
And if you are
prepared ... you might just survive.
During a financial collapse your paper assets and perhaps
even banknotes may lose value. Keep records of your stocks and bonds,
certificates of deposit, insurance, taxes and other paper instruments in case
of recovery.
Be prepared for hyperinflation and have a stock of useful
money-substitutes for trading ... coffee, sugar, salt, toilet paper, herbs,
pain-killers.
Hoarding may not be a
crime ... yet.
During commercial collapse most consumer goods become
unavailable, except as trade for useful items or services. Shops and
supermarket staff hoard their goods and food awaiting some sign of recovery -
and only distribute those goods in return for trade or protection, or at
gunpoint.
Communications cease and food riots begin. Don't expect
police, military or firemen to protect you or your home. Suspected looters or
terrorists may be shot on sight ... which means anybody.
During martial law, little freedom remains, and martial law
can be enacted with a signature. Expect curfews, rationing, closed borders and
travel permits at first ... later you may hear rumours of sealed cities, slave
labour and concentration camps
During political collapse government services vanish. Your
contracts, licenses and tax returns have little meaning.
Police and military use their weapons to protect their own
homes and supplies from riots and starving people. Suicides skyrocket.
Highways resemble parking lots. Starving city people
converge on farms near cities, known food-producing areas and vacation homes.
Expect stringent rules and road barricades to limit theft
and contain epidemics. Expect summary executions for minor offences.
During social collapse most hospitals, clinics and schools
cease to function. Their staff may not be paid and either be forced to work
(perhaps at gunpoint) or become local enterprises trading their services for
food, medications and essentials.
Disease is everywhere and medications are scarce. Equipment
requiring electrical power may be operated from local generators while fuel is
still available.
Few people care whether you live or die ... and some would
prefer to loot your dead body.
During military collapse the military forces become a new
aristocracy based on scavenging and feudal farming.
Much of your food and property could be confiscated and
little if any effort invested in your survival. Torture and executions are
commonplace.
You're on your own.
Unless you have needed skills you are an easily-replaced
field slave or grunt soldier.
During civilization collapse most of your time is spent
gathering and protecting whatever you can hoard, trade or scavenge; and
avoiding being robbed, enslaved or eaten.
Pity has become a
luxury!
What skills are essential to your survival?
What goods would simplify or comfort your survival?
If you cannot survive without luxuries - how do you want to
die?
Preparation is a better investment against chaos than
stocks, bonds or gold. Stocking up on necessities is very cheap insurance, but
be discrete, or you may be accused of hoarding, or be robbed.
Plan to survive.
Have what you need instead of desperately searching or
fighting for it.
Other good insurance if you can afford it may be a large
sailboat or a country house with space to grow and store crops.
Seek a rather isolated place, maybe a hundred miles from a
city, not visible from the main roads, with woodland and surface water nearby.
(And if there is no collapse in your lifetime, you and your
family can enjoy a boat / holiday home / smallholding with a good resale
value.)
So read about survival. Use but don't depend on the internet
- or on electricity.
Get healthy. Walk and ride a bicycle. Find substitutes for
artificial medications.
Sort out your fears and concerns now ... you will need a
healthy mind to protect your family. Life will be tough enough without
depression, neuroses and panic attacks.
Dry foods such as rice, grain and beans are cheap insurance
against a crisis. Stock enough long term storage food for a family of four
persons to survive for three months, or for one person for a year.
Use this food
regularly and restock it regularly.
Keep a supply of clean water ... if you lose electric power
you may lose drinking water too.
Wean yourself off addictive and unhealthy foods. Learn about
and explore wild foods. Know, at least, which local wild foods are edible and
which are toxic, and where they grow.
Stock up on needed medications and emergency medical
supplies; learn first aid and CPR.
Ten acres of good land can support 4-10 people indefinitely,
depending upon available water, land quality, tools, foiling thieves and
management skills.
Locate a retreat in a low population density area - the
lower the better - more than 160 km / 100 miles from large towns or cities
perhaps the top of Scotland.
Let your survival be
your best revenge.
Drug dealers, legal and illegal, do not profit from healthy
people. Most physical and mental diseases are consequences of unhealthy
lifestyles and unhappy relationships. Clean up your mess!
Following a rapid collapse, many people will die and
survivors must cooperate to live. In remote areas and in rural villages,
neighbours are still valued.
Most people, even with huge emotional baggage, even in a
horrendous crisis, can participate in community - if they choose.
Community requires that people choose co-operation to
individualism. It may not be easy, but it is possible.
Lastly in the event of a collapse, joining a successful
community will become a dream for many starving people.
How will your community decide who to accept - and who to
turn away?
How kind can you be?
How will you deal with armed intruders?
How will you commence trade with other survivor communities?
The Luci Lantern Review
The Luci lantern is a
truly brilliant piece of design. Self-inflating and solar powered, Luci is the
ultimate zero-maintenance outdoor accessory.
Luci can be manually
inflated like a regular inflatable, but by simply holding open the air-valve
and gently pulling the lantern open it will entirely self-inflate. The benefit
of this is a moisture free interior providing a high clarity of light.
Luci features two
solar panels that take 8 hours to fully charge and will then provide light from
a minimum of 6-12 hours. Luci is also able to retain 50% of her charge for two
years when inactive making her perfect for emergency situations.
Luci features three
different light modes - low, high and strobe - all of which are accessed by a
single slim button. Luci is entirely waterproof and weather resistant.
This multi-functional
lantern is perfect for everything from camping holidays and music festivals, to
breakdowns and power cuts, to adding a magical decorative flare to an outdoor
party.
A perfect package of
excellent design and great functionality.
Charges in both
direct sunlight and incandescent light;
Retains 50% of charge
for 2 years if inactive;
Ten white Light
Emitting Diodes (LED’s) with 4000 mcd light source;
Two brightness levels
to conserve battery life;
Flashing-light
setting for emergency situations;
Delivers up to 80
lumens providing 15 sq ft of light;
Rechargeable lithium
polymer battery pack:
Over charge/discharge
protection;
Micro Power Design is
a for purpose technology incubator, accelerator and manufacturer providing
lifestyle innovations to those who need it most.
We are the inventor
and manufacturer of Luci the solar-powered light. Luci is a low cost, long
lasting, durable, lighting solution for those who live off the grid, cannot
afford to live on the grid or are victims of emergency situations and
disasters.
Unlike other solar
power products, Luci incorporates the functions of a task light, flash light
and diffused lantern. Luci has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and weighs
only 4.5 ounces making it compact, lightweight and collapsible for travel, is
durable and reliable in extreme weather conditions and can easily be attached
to a wall or ceiling.
Luci was designed to
be independent of a power grid. Luci is the solution where light is
inaccessible or unaffordable. Luci is a clean, low-cost, sustainable energy
provider.
Luci provides a
dependable solution where there are unreliable or absent electrical services.
Once Luci is acquired, there are no further costs associated with lighting.
Luci was created to
empower the developing world through solar power, providing greater equity to
those without access to electricity. The true promise of solar-powered lighting
as a solution to energy poverty lies in the opportunities Luci will create for
individuals and their communities.
Luci Improves Quality
of Life
However as I have
discussed with LUCI, they have the solution to emergency survival lighting and
I recommend that a LUCI is added to any bug-out kit or for any bug-in kit for
that matter. Just buy the number you need and once charged off you go. Of
course they have an on off switch so you can save the stored energy.
Look I love it, it
lights up instantly by just being in the sunlight, in other words it is
instantly charging itself.
So what is it really
like to use?
Well the answer is
fantastic, simply fantastic, it just does what it says on the tin so to speak,
it is reusable and it costs nothing to use beat that.
Why Prepare 72-Hour "Bug-Out" Bags
This is an easy, cost-effective preparation that makes a ton
of sense — no matter what happens.
Even a small preparation like this can have an enormous
impact on how you survive the first few days after any type of catastrophic
event.
I’ll bet there were a lot of people after evacuated flood
hit Britain that would have loved to have such a bag for each member of their
family...
This could be a backpack or bag of some sort for each family
member that contains all the items that individual may need during the first 72
hours after a disaster strikes.
Items to include in such a bag would be toiletries,
important papers (see below), change of underwear and clothes, some bottled water,
snacks, a few bags of freeze-dried food that only require two cups of hot water
to reconstitute within self-contained bag, water purification device,
Metal cup and small pot for boiling water, backpacker
mini-cook stove with fuel, sleeping bag, towel, ability to make fire,
torch/flashlight with extra batteries, glow sticks, ground cloth, tarp, rain
gear, plastic forks, knives, spoons, parachute cord, personal cleaning wipes,
A first aid kit and medication, good sharp knife and a
multi-tool, fishing line, small fishing hooks, compass, cash, physical gold and
silver, map of areas you may need, and any other items that would make sense
for you.
Special items
required by the elderly, babies, and pets need to be considered as well.
Important paperwork you should bring with you includes:
birth certificates, insurance policies, passports, medical records, pet medical
records, bank account information, deeds and titles to cars, homes etc.,
computer backup.
Gather these and put them in a suitable container and wrap
in plastic against the elements
Having such preparations after a flood or any disaster would
allow you to grab and go because it’s already prepared.
Each member of my family has such a bag. I them under our
stairs in a heavy-duty large black bag for protection against the elements.
Understand what “just
in time inventory” is — and how this can affect you
Most Brits take for granted the intricate systems that make
it possible for us to engage in seemingly mundane day-to-day tasks like filling
up our petrol tanks, loading up our shopping carts at the local supermarket,
obtaining necessary medications, and even pouring ourselves a clean glass of
water...
When we wake up each morning, we just expect that all of
these things will work today the same way they worked yesterday.
What very few people have considered is the complexity
involved in the underlying infrastructure that allows goods, services, and
commerce in GB to flow.
Fewer still have ever spent the time to contemplate the
fragility of these systems or the consequences on food, water, health care, the
financial system, and the economy if they are interrupted.
The truth is, our "just in time" inventory and
delivery systems leaves us incredibly vulnerable to a nationwide disaster.
You see, it is very expensive to hold and store inventory,
so most manufacturers and retailers rely on a continual flow of deliveries that
are scheduled to arrive "just in time," which significantly reduces
their operating expenses.
This is considered to be good business practice for
manufacturers and retailers, but it also means that if there was a major
nationwide transportation disruption, our economic system would grind to a halt
almost immediately.
Once store shelves are picked clean, they would not be able
to be replenished until trucks could get back on the road. In the event of a
major nationwide disaster, that could be quite a while.
A report prepared for legislators and business leaders
highlights just how critical our "just in time" inventory and
delivery systems are, and assesses the impact on the general population in the
event of an emergency or incident of national significance that disrupts the
truck transportation systems responsible for carrying some millions on tons of
commodities and supplies across the United Kingdom each year.
A shutdown of truck operations as a result of elevated
threat levels, terrorist attacks, or pandemics would, according to the report,
have "a swift and devastating impact on the food, healthcare,
transportation, waste removal, retail, manufacturing, and financial
sectors."
So too would events such as an EMP attack or a coordinated
cyber-attack that could shut down global positioning systems and the computers
responsible for inventory control.
Another potential scenario that is more likely now than ever
before is liquidity problems within the financial system stemming from currency
crisis or hyperinflation...
All of our "just in time" delivery systems are
built upon the unhindered transfer of money and credit, but when credit flow
becomes restricted or money becomes worthless, no one will be able to pay for
their goods. Likewise, no one will trust the credit worthiness of anyone else.
This is exactly the scenario playing out in Greece right now
and the consequences on the health care industry in that country have left many
without lifesaving drugs. When there’s no money, no one will be transporting
anything.
The effects of a transportation shutdown for any reason
would be immediate (in some cases, within hours) and absolutely catastrophic.
Any event that disrupts truck transportation systems may
seem unlikely to many, recent history suggests it is fully plausible — and the
blowback can be devastating...
A day after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, panicked
government officials stopped all transportation flow into the region, forcing
hundreds of trucks loaded with emergency supplies like food and water to wait
for permission before they could enter the area.
As a result, thousands of residents of the city were left
without items essential for survival. It took days before truck routes were
re-opened and supplies were allowed to flow.
Government officials acting on limited information, lack of
knowledge, and personal politics were responsible for restricting the flow of
goods into New Orleans, potentially killing hundreds of people
It will be exactly
the same here in the United Kingdom
What this incident demonstrated is that when the trucks in
America stop, all commerce and delivery stops with it.
Educate yourself on
and take measures to store food
There is plenty of material available on the Internet about
the best ways to store food. I personally have read many books on the topic,
and one of the most important features is trying to gather materials that have
a long shelf life and which keep their nutritional value...
Most store-bought items have very short shelf lives and
don’t work well for long-term food storage. Canned goods can work, but these
must be stored in a cool, dry environment well below room temperature for
increased shelf life (but not freezing).
Freeze-dried food can also work, but can be rather expensive
— and the taste can sometimes be questionable. (There are many different
manufacturers, and you need to educate yourself before purchasing. I like
tasting the items first before making any major purchases.) as most taste of
cardboard to me.
Better yet is to store staples such as wheat, rice, beans,
sugar, oats, etc. — which, if stored properly, can last up to 30 years.
I look at my food
storage as an investment, and I want it to have a long life
There are various methods of storing these staples, and each
person should consider what method would work best for their circumstances.
Obtain water and
purify it
In my search for "safe drinking water," I found
what I consider the best available situation on the planet...
The Lifesaver water bottle uses the latest technology to
provide clean, pure drinking water. I have spent a lot of time searching the
best way to purifying water, and in my opinion, there's nothing better whilst
in a bug out or in location.
However whilst on the move the Purificup comes into its own
as the best water purifier on the market for those on the move.
Also under the water category, it is wise to consider some
form of water storage — whether it's five-gallon containers, 55-gallon plastic
drums, or some other form of storage, all of which can be obtained from many
different sources.
The bottom line in water preparedness is to always have a
safe source(s) of clean drinking water and a way to store it.
To most this may sound absurd, since you can get clean
drinking water from the tap in your home, but in times of emergency and/or
civil unrest, the water may be shut off — or you may be displaced from your
home and will need a way to access clean water.
This is one of the most rehashed subjects of survival, but
probably the most important one
Most people just assume the taps will continue to flow and
water will be there
People need to know that unless water is from a spring, it
will likely need to be purified — and this means some reliable filters or
boiling (which requires heat from a fire along with pots to boil it in).
Aside from drinking, water is also needed to rehydrate food,
make milk from powder, and of course, for personal hygiene.
How much water will be needed and used is something that is
often vastly underestimated
Economic Collapse
Know how to protect yourself. This almost certainly means
owning a firearm and knowing how to use it to protect yourself or others.
Many TV survival documentaries show people who feel they can
defend themselves with knives or clubs, but in reality, they are going to lose
98% of the time against someone else with a firearm.
Someone that has been specifically trained on how to use
firearms in a defensive manner will almost always win the day in a gun battle.
You can’t just own a gun; I say you have to know how to use
it at a very high level
You also need to know how to clean your weapons and take
care of them. Access to a gunsmith may or may not be available to you during an
emergency situation...
Some people think they cannot use a firearm against another
person, but this feeling changes abruptly when they see one of their family
members at risk.
Some people still cannot use a firearm in any circumstance,
and these people should consider some form of self-defence such as the
non-lethal devices (stun batons, pepper sprays, TASERS, even baseball bats).
People can feel that everyone will come together and rebuild
society, and many good people will — but there are plenty of bad people in this
world. And it may come down to you or them.
Everyone needs to practice over and over with any
self-defence armament they have so there is no hesitation when it comes to
saving one’s life from someone that is willing to take yours or your loved
ones'.
Some other types of guns to consider are a good defensive
shotgun (12 gauge) with large-size buckshot and a long-range rifle with a
quality scope.
If you are not familiar with guns, it is best to find a
friend who is who can help you through the process of buying handguns,
shotguns, or rifles.
Once you have the guns you want, it then becomes necessary
to know how to safely use those guns without hesitation if needed. If you are
not familiar with the handling of guns I highly recommend you find someone that
can properly train you in a safe environment.
Unfortunately, the "bad guys" always have illegal
guns. So it is in your best interest to go through whatever permitting or
paperwork hassles necessary to obtain legal weapons of any kind in your own
country.
Have a way to cook food in case the power is off. A story
below from someone who experienced an earthquake serves as a great reminder why
we want to have the ability to cook our own food during a crisis...
A few years ago, I remember seeing people on TV waiting in long food queues after an
earthquake hit California. Many of the people in the damage zone spent hours in
breakfast queues, then long queues for lunch, then a repeat for dinner.
They had to spend many hours a day queuing because either
they had no food reserves or had no means of cooking their stored food.
A little preparation can go a long way in preparing for
emergencies. Had these good people stored a little food, fuel, and invested in
a good quality Dutch oven for example, they would be set for cooking in their
back garden instead of relying on hand-outs to supply their family's nutrition.
Good quality Dutch ovens are fun to use, the food always
tastes great, and they're invaluable in emergencies. They require charcoal to
prepare your food.
Understand the
psychology of desperate people
After a SHTF event, people will not behave normally. That
neighbour who was in control during many minor emergencies may be the one
pounding on your door with whacked-out eyes demanding what you have because
they did not prepare for anything.
Someone in your own
survival group may just blank out in a zombie-like stare
Unexpected times bring out the best and worst in people —
and you need to prepare for this possibility.
You yourself could lose it. Again, preparing for this will
help should it occur. You always hope that disasters will bring out the best in
your fellow human beings, but often this is not the case.
Maintain proper hygiene. This is one of the top priorities
within the armed forces because disease and sickness can and do take down the
toughest of soldiers.
People must realize that after a terrible disaster, it is
not like someone going camping, comes back dirty, and taking a nice long shower
or a hot bath...
After a SHTF event the water to the taps, as well the hot
water heater, may not work. Bathing on at least a semi-regular basis is
necessary to avoid all sorts of bacteria from building up on the skin and
causing a variety of concerning ailments that will then have to be treated.
People should plan on how they will keep themselves clean —
think sponge baths or using personal wet wipes as an option.
How to dispose of waste and proper sanitation in third world
countries and the pre-flush toilet era, one of the leading causes of illness
and death was (and still is) improperly discarded waste. If the toilets won’t
flush because there is no water to make them work, human waste is going to be a
huge whopping problem for people trying to survive.
Even improperly burying human excrement can lead to disease.
Portable toilets, toilet paper, and disinfectant (bleach, for one) should be
one of the top items in any survival kit.
Disposal of other rubbish is an issue that can bring hungry
dangerous animals around drawn to the stench. Burning of trash is one method;
plastic rubbish bags and the means to find some place to dump them is another
alternative.
Learn to control pests and other vermin. I have talked about
this before, this is a problem that led to about half of Europe dying several
hundred years ago with the Black Death.
Fleas and ticks carry some terrible diseases. Even people
that stay inside their own homes will have to deal with this problem. People
outside will have to contend with the fleas, ticks, flies, mosquitoes, mice,
rats, and so on...
There are many repellents in nature that can help:
citronella, even the smell of garlic will repel most vermin. Stocking up on
insect and other commercial repellents is always an excellent idea. It only
takes one bite to make a person deathly sick.
Understand radiation fallout and how to protect yourself.
This is one of the least understood of the survival precautions taken. There
are hundreds of nuclear power plants that could fail after the world as we know
it goes down the tube.
There are still tens of thousands of nuclear weapons
available for war should countries decide to use them.
Recently North Korea
has threatened the world with a nuclear attack.
Fallout is something that you cannot even see... and until
you are sick, you might not even know you have been contaminated.
The purchase of a radiation detector that is protected
against EMP is a wise idea. Understanding about radiation accumulation dosage
(rad) and how to shield oneself from exposure is paramount.
Learn first aid treating yourself and/or others will probably
be the only thing someone can do, as medical professionals are going to be few
and far between.
Many places offer free classes on first aid because they
want people in the community to be prepared. A good first aid book along with a
first aid kit is something every household should have before, during, and
after a disaster.
Primitive conditions should be expected when anyone is
helping someone after a catastrophe. A stockpile of antibiotics is always a
good idea.
From my viewpoint, this is a skill set that is valuable in
any circumstance — but particularly in SHTF events when medical personnel may
not be available in a convenient time frame.
Learn about nutrition. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are
nothing to fool around with. Just consider what scurvy, the lack of Vitamin C,
can do to someone...
Many survivalists and "preppers" make the critical
mistake of only being concerned about calories to keep them going. Certain
vitamins (A, B1-B12, C, D, E, K), minerals (Calcium, Copper, Iodine, Iron,
Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, Selenium, Zinc) and trace minerals
are necessary to keep a body going.
Each person needs different amounts and any survival food
supply should take this need as important as the food itself. Many survival
foods have some of what your body needs, but sadly lack in others...
Vitamin and mineral supplements should be stocked with food
if someone is unsure about what they are getting. Trace mineral drops are a
liquid that can solve this problem, and are a good addition to any emergency
supply.
How to start and maintain a fire this is for everyone.
Having a fire and keeping it going when you need it has been the essence of
survival for thousands of years.
Fire cooks, heats water, keeps you warm, sterilizes items,
and gives light. Having a lighter, matches, and a starter is one thing; but
actually keeping the fire going is another...
Making sure the fire does not cause damage to your home or
shelter is something not everyone thinks about. Burning of toxic wood or other
material is something to remember as well.
While most everyone thinks that using a fire is rudimentary,
there is much more to it. As a matter of fact, a church group recently tested
some of their members and gave them matches to start a file.
Most of the people had trouble starting a basic fire even
though they had matches. This is a skill that you must acquire that allows you
to consistently start a fire anywhere at any time.
You should also learn
to start a fire without matches firstly in your back garden as if you cannot do
it there what chance will you have in the woods when your life depends on it.
Learn how to grow food and/or find it. People’s supplies
will only last so long, and eventually self-sufficiency will mean acquiring
your own food — by either growing it or hunting for it.
Many people are into seed storing, and in many cases,
growing your own food will feed the family. However, growing food has many
drawbacks that people need to look at.
One of the gravest things to contemplate is actually
guarding your yield, as two-legged problems could be a bigger issue to your
crops than some beetle infestation. Hungry people will see food growing and
take it, 24 hours a day. No one can grow enough food to feed all those seeking
food.
From a practical sense, it might be a better idea for some
to go the hunter-gathering route. There are many good survival shows on
television today that are very informative on surviving off the land.
Learning these skill
sets can make a huge difference in any survival situation
Last-minute items to secure from the supermarket. Hopefully
you already have your long-term food storage and other preparations in place:
canned goods, grains, rice, pasta, paper products, and freeze-dried foods that
store well over time...
This should allow you to concentrate on these other items
while most other people are trying to secure what you already have.
Once a SHTF event occurs, you may want to quickly go to the
supermarket to secure these last-minute items before the shelves are empty.
These are typically items that don’t store well for the long-term, but would be
critical to own once a breakdown occurs.
Studies have shown
these short-term storage items go first when a crisis happens.
Most of these products have a shelf life of less than 18
months:
Bottled Water
Powdered Milk
Pancake mix (never use beyond shelf life, as this has been
known to cause toxic shock)
Ramen Noodles
Popcorn
Cereal
Beef Jerky
Cooking Oils
Nuts
Dried Fruits
Power Bars
Juice Powders
Spices (salt, pepper, etc.)
Honey
Crackers
Baking Essentials (flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder)
Coffee
Alcohol for medicinal purposes or for bartering
Hard Candies
Baby Food, Diapers, Wipes
Pet Food
These are just some suggestions that people need to address
now — before trying to survive the aftermath of a horrible event.
People who prepare have to realize that when civilization
stops functioning, so too does everything that most of us depend on.
There may never be a safety net there for us WHEN our
stocked-up survival supplies run dry
Much of survival is having supplies — as well as backups for
when food, water, and other necessities cannot be found. The other part is
being ready for everything our new situation could throw our way. For this, we
all need to learn survival skills.
When someone thinks about their personal needs, an
individual can probably add many more survival skills to the items I have
talked about above.
You want to become quite proficient in these skills before
the SHTF so you and your family have a better chance of surviving.
The Evacu-hood Review
Packed within a slim foil pouch this emergency escape hood
can be easily stored in the home, car, pocket or personal hand baggage. The
Evacu-hood is designed to protect the wearer's respiratory system from
potentially harmful elements and particles. A must have in any personal safety
pack - particularly for regular business travellers.
Keep your pocket or carried it as personal hand baggage.
To use the emergency hood simply tear open the foil, place
the transparent plastic hood over the head with the ventilation panel in front
of the mouth and secure around the neck with the provided elastic bands.
Instant, simple and effective.
The emergency escape hood protects against chemicals, fumes,
smoke, micro-organisms, bacteria and gasses. It has been tested to class P2 for
particulate filtration efficiency in accordance with European standard EN143
part 5.5 and 6.4.1. The emergency mask is CE marked.
The question is does it actually work, well the answer is of
course it does and it does so very well indeed.
I wore it on the North York’s Moors when the old heather was
being burned off and having chronic lung disease I was amazed to find that even
though I was standing downwind I was quite comfortable and was able to breath
without coughing. However I also know how affected I would be had I not worn
the Evacu-Hood.
It is really reassuring to find a product that works as
described.
THE ELEVENTH WILDERNESS GATHERING 2014 14th to the 17th
August
The Wilderness Gathering has over the years become a firm
date in the diaries of those who enjoy bushcraft, nature and wilderness
survival skills. The previous ten years have seen this event grow from a small
event in one field with some traders and schools sharing bushcraft skills and
knowledge to a festival of wilderness living skills encompassing
bushcraft/survival and woodland crafts.
The show has grown into an event with something for all the
family with stories and music by the campfire in the evenings and skills
workshops and activities throughout the three whole days of the festival.
The Wilderness Gathering has without a doubt become the
premier family event for all those interested in bush crafts and the great
outdoors.
The show has bushcraft clubs for all age groups of children
to get involved in plus more activities for all including den building and
wilderness skills classes for all.
There are hands on demonstrations of game preparation, knife
sharpening, basha boat building, bowmaking, greenwood working, archery and axe
throwing and primitive fire lighting to name just a few. There are talks on
survival phycology, classes on falconry and wilderness survival fishing. All of
these skills are there for everybody and anybody to participate in.
You can probably pick up information on nearly all the
skills needed to live in the wilderness and prosper at The Wilderness
Gathering.
There is a wealth of good quality trade stands that are
carefully selected to be in theme for the show selling everything from custom
knives to tipis and outdoor clothing to primitive tools. The organisers have
even laid on a free service bring and buy stall where you can bring along your
used and unwanted kit and they’ll sell it for you.
There are local scout and explorer group’s onsite promoting
the World Wide Scouting Movement as well helping out with some of the classes
and site logistics.
The catering is within the theme of the event with venison
and game featuring on the menus plus organic cakes and drinks. The woodland and
open field camping facilities (with hot showers) giving you the option to visit
for the whole weekend or just to attend as a day visitor.
The Proud Prepper is
a prepper of 10+ years’ experience and he uses his T-shirt sales to fund his
prepping. He has just designed a bad-ass Proud Prepper T-Shirt, Check it out. (Only
75 available) at https://www.facebook.com/blogging.forcash
